Credibility questioned as actor sticks to talk shows

Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

Published
4:00 am PDT, Thursday, September 18, 2003

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, Republican candidate for governor of California in the Oct. 7 recall election, is interviewed by talk show host Larry King during a taping of the CNN program "Larry King Live," Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger discussed his campaign in the interview which will be telecast on Wednesday. (AP Photo/CNN / Rose M. Prouser) less

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, Republican candidate for governor of California in the Oct. 7 recall election, is interviewed by talk show host Larry King during a taping of the CNN program "Larry King ... more

Photo: ROSE M PROUSER

Photo: ROSE M PROUSER

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Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, Republican candidate for governor of California in the Oct. 7 recall election, is interviewed by talk show host Larry King during a taping of the CNN program "Larry King Live," Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger discussed his campaign in the interview which will be telecast on Wednesday. (AP Photo/CNN / Rose M. Prouser) less

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, Republican candidate for governor of California in the Oct. 7 recall election, is interviewed by talk show host Larry King during a taping of the CNN program "Larry King ... more

Photo: ROSE M PROUSER

Credibility questioned as actor sticks to talk shows

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Arnold Schwarzenegger, in another attempt to carefully shape his media profile, played to vastly different crowds Wednesday, accepting an endorsement from shock jock Howard Stern -- who asked his position on lap dancing -- and later fielding gentle queries from CNN talk show host Larry King.

The appearances occurred the same day Schwarzenegger skipped a second major debate among candidates in the recall election, and they raised questions about his campaign strategy and choice of venues to press his message.

The interview with King broke no new ground as the actor-turned-Republican- candidate was pressed for few details of his proposals and stuck to stump- speech themes. He took no calls from viewers or listeners in either appearance.

But Schwarzenegger's decision to make a repeat appearance on the Stern show,

regularly populated by porn stars and peppered with talk of sex acts, raised alarms from unlikely allies -- women's advocates and conservative Republicans. Some critics said the candidate's decision to sidestep regular debates and detailed interviews, relying instead on glitzier national media shows, has hurt his credibility.

"To do that radio show (Stern's) while seeking political office is not only offensive to the voters but to Republicans who emphasize ideas," said GOP consultant K.B. Forbes, who has been an adviser to former GOP candidate Bill Simon, who dropped out of the Oct. 7 recall election. "This is proof that Arnold is not making a transition from celebrity to political candidate. It's making a mockery of the campaign."

CONSERVATIVE REACTION

"It's a very sleazy show," said Randy Thomassen, who heads the conservative Campaign for California Families, in reaction to the shock jock interview. "Arnold and (Democratic Lt. Gov.) Cruz Bustamante have something in common. Arnold goes on these sleazy shows, and Bustamante supports some sleazy bills."

A dismayed Ann Harrison, executive director of Marin Services for Women, said, "Has this guy got a brain tumor or what? What in the world is he thinking?"

Harrison said Schwarzenegger's association with Stern -- who regularly jokes about date-rape drugs and underage sex, and often urges female visitors to disrobe -- can be no joke to female voters.

"There are so many young men who look up to him -- and (Arnold) has not clarified if this is something that is inappropriate or whether it's OK," said Harrison, whose organization provides counseling and recovery services for victims of abuse and addiction.

But Schwarzenegger's supporters and campaign strongly defend his choices, arguing the candidate hopes to appeal to -- and represent -- all demographic groups.

"His appearance on the Howard Stern show is great," said Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas (Los Angeles County), the co-chairman of the Schwarzenegger campaign. "It shows he's reaching out to a broad cross section of Californians.

"One of the points of Arnold's candidacy is to bring people to the electoral process who may not otherwise be there, and I think that's a great thing. I can't understand how anyone would be critical . . . we welcome support from Howard Stern," Dreier said.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Sean Walsh acknowledged the candidate has conducted just five interviews with state newspapers and has appeared before no editorial boards -- though he plans to attend one debate next week. But he insisted that Schwarzenegger has been widely available to the media.

"We're trying to change the way that people look at their government and bring the power back to the people," Walsh said. "To simply be content with establishment media . . . is not the only way to include the electorate. You strike a balance doing as many as you can."

THE WOMAN QUESTION

But the Stern interview, carried on four metropolitan radio stations in California, appeared to undermine the candidate's attempts to settle questions regarding his past treatment of women.

Schwarzenegger spoke with Stern -- whom he has called a longtime friend -- on the same day his wife, Maria Shriver, hit the campaign trail to meet with businesswomen.

And it came just two days after Schwarzenegger and Shriver tried to speak about his strength as a family man on the Oprah Winfrey show, which draws a heavily female audience.

The Stern appearance was far more tame than Schwarzenegger's last visit in late June, when the shock jock pressed him about the size of his private parts,

his nude scenes in the "Terminator" movies and whether he would allow himself and his wife to be filmed having sex.

This time, Stern said, "When you win -- and you'll win, don't worry, we'll see to it -- would you let me make a speech at the inauguration? . . . I got to get something. Can I have some title? Something."

"We will get some titles going immediately here," said Schwarzenegger.

And on issues, Stern was most fired up on: "Why can't they have lap dances anymore in Los Angeles?"

Answered Schwarzenegger: "City Hall has decided against it. And that's what they do, they make those laws."

Political insiders said the lighthearted banter with Stern -- whose audience is heavily male and dominated by 18- to 25-year-olds, masked a serious effort to focus on a specific slice of California voters, but represented a risk.

The so-called Jesse Ventura strategy, said Cain, referring to the former wrestler who became governor of Minnesota, is intended for the "cool dude vote. " But, he said, "it's not completely bonkers. For the apolitical person he's trying to get, who may not read the papers and is really voting on the image, it's not really stupid."

But Democratic political consultant Bill Carrick said the strategy reflects more entertainment roots than political ones.

"This is how the movie people promote movies. It's not how you promote a (gubernatorial) campaign.

"It's a cynical ploy to go talk to people in a targeted demographic way -- believing that women who watch Oprah won't hear the Howard Stern show, and the testosterone constituency of Stern won't hear Oprah," Carrick said.

Some Republican insiders said the appearance on the Stern show suggested Schwarzenegger, who has been highly successful in self-promotion in the entertainment field, is a first-time political candidate discarding advice from seasoned consultants.

"I can't believe anybody in the campaign would approve this," said one longtime GOP insider who spoke not for attribution. "It's the same side of a guy who announced his candidacy, a momentous step, without telling anybody. It's obvious this guy has one side that's the highly focused, disciplined bodybuilder. And the other side is -- 'Screw you, I'll do what I want.' "

But Walsh defended his candidate, saying, "We make no apologies for interacting with 5,000 screaming voters who are excited about an election. We make no apologies for radio interviews that are heard by millions."